Solenoid switch assembly



2 Sheets-Sheet l A. F. WALTON SOLENOID SWITCH ASSEMBLY Fa/. E.

Afll 4 1\ Y April 12, 1949.

Filed D80. 20, 1945 A. F. WA LTON SOLENOID SWITCH ASSEMBLY April 12, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 20, 1945 my w 3 W N/ W w O 1 M ,d Mz, W m, M m R .NM 4 n NM. V E v mmm\ 1% am Patented Apr. 12, 1949 i 2,467,063 SOLENOID SWITCH ASSEMBLY Burbank, Calif., assigner Arthur Frank Walton,

to Adel Precision Prod of California nets Corp., a corporation Appumlcn December zo, 194s, semina 636,222 1 cnam. (ci. zoo-s1) This invention relates to solenoids of the two coil type in which both coils are energized to operate the plunger and but one coil remains energized under a low current consumption to hold the plunger in the position into which it is moved by both coils.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a solenoid of the character described which is constructed and arranged in a particular manner of comparatively few parts, of simple and inexpensive construction so as to reduce the cost of manufacture and assure a reliable performance thereof as well as afford the detachable connection thereto of a novel adjustable switch unit which becomes a part of the solenoid assembly yet is readily accessible for adjustment to vary the operational characteristics of the solenoid best to suit the particular requirements at hand.

Another object of this invention is to provide a solenoid unit-switch unit assembly in which the cooperating parts of the switch unit and solenoid unit are so constructed and arranged that the switch unit may be readily combined with solenoid units over a wide range of sizes as to the coils and other parts thereof, and wherein the solenoid unit may be made much more compact and better sealed against entrance oi foreign matter and has its switch-cooperating elements disposed so as to be protected against damage when the switch unit is removed.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of'example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a. side elevation of a solenoid embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the solenoid showing the piunger in cross section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the solenoid;

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuit embodied in the solenoid showing the switch mechanism schematically;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, partly in elevation, the sectional .part being taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 7 and showing the switch as closed;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the switch in open position;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of the solenoid with the cover cap removed;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of F18. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a detail of the solenoid assembly as embraced by the arrow-circle 9 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the solenoid with the lcover cap removed and showing how a ground connection may be made to adapt the solenoid for the single conductor circuit from the source of energy;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view showing how the cover cap is secured in place;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line |2-I2 of Fig. '1; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l3l3 of Fig. '1.

As shown in the accompanying drawings the present invention is embodied in a solenoid which includes a cylindrical shell l as a housing for a hollow spool 2, concentric coils 3 and 4 around the spool, an annular end member 5 fixed within one end of the shell, a stop member 8 extending into said spool and a flange or head 'l on the stop member fixed within the other end of said spool for cooperation with said end member to hold the spool and coils in place in the shell. The usual plunger 8 is extended through end member 5 into the spool 2 for response to energizatlon of the coils 3 and 4. These coils are controlled by a special switch unit generally designated and mounted on the head l so as to be responsive to a thrust pin Ill actuated by the plunger 8.

The coil 3 is heavier than coil 4 and both coils will be energized when the solenoid circuit is.

closed, but when the plunger responds and moves inwardly against the stop member 6 the pin Ill operates the switch unit to deenergize the heavy coil I while the lighter coil 4 remains energized under a comparatively small current consumption to hold the plunger in the desired position until the solenoid circuit is opened.

The end member 5 is fixed securely in the shell l in any suitable manner and the head 1 of the stop i is also securely held in place as here shown by crimping over the edge of the shell l as at Il. Screw threaded holes l2 in the end member 5 provide for the application of screws I3 for securing the solenoid to a support or member I4 upon which the solenoid is to be mounted.

Supported on a flat ring l5 which is held on one end of the coil assembly,are like contact posts I6 and I1 which are electrically connected with certain corresponding ends i6' and il of the coils 3 and 4 respectively as shown in Figs. ,5, 8 and 9. A similar contact post I8 is likewise mounted on the flat ring l5 and is electrically connected to a conductor 8 (Fig. 8) 'which electrically connects the other corresponding ends of the wires of the coils 3 and 4 respectively. These binding posts extend through a flat insulating ring 28 cemented on the flange or head 1, into like openings 2| formed in said head, but terminate in inwardly spaced relation to the outer ends of said openings. The openings 2| are lined with insulation sleeves 22.

The switch unit 8 is arranged to be detachably secured to the head or flange l of the stop 5 as will be seen in Figs. 1l and 12. In this connection it should be noted that the switch unit is constructed and arranged so that it may be installed upon the end of any two-coil solenoid assembly in which said end is constructed and arranged with binding posts and coil terminal contacts in the manner here shown.

As here shown the switch unit 8 includes a cup-like body member 23 of insulation material having a bottom wall24 and annular side wall 25. A flanged cover cap 2B closes the open side of said body and forms therewith a sealed housing for the switch elements. Like screws 21 are applied through the bottom wall of the body member 23 and screw-threaded openings 28 in the head l for detachably securing the switch unit in place. The cap 26 is held in place by means of screws 28 turned into a tubular rivetlike post 38 carried by the bottom wall 24 as shown in Fig. 9.

As shown in Figs. '7, 1l and 12 the outer edge of the annular wall 2 5 is provided with arcuate inwardly oflset flanges 25' which are telescoped by the flange of the cover cap 28 to facilitate the mounting and holding of the cap in place.

The switch unit as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 includes a flexible and resilient switch arm 3| secured at one end upon the bottom wall 24 of the body member 23 by means of a tubular conductor post 32. This post is extended through an opening in the switch arm and an opening 33 in the wall 24. This opening is counterbored as at 34 so that the inner end of the post may be iiared as at 35 to hold the post in place, there being a bead 36 on the post lying against the switch arm to secure the post in place as well as anchor one end of the switch arm on the bottom wall 24. The outer end of the insulation sleeve 22 in the opening 2| for the contact post Il is engaged within and against the flared end of the post 32. A helical spring 31 mounted in the sleeve 22 has its ends in contact with the posts i1 and 32 respectively and serves as a connector whereby the switch arm is electrically connected in series with the heavy coil 4.

The outer or free end of the switch arm 3| carries a contact member 38 adapted to be moved into and out of contact with a contact member 38 which is the head of a rivet 48 riveted to the bottom wall 24 with its riveted end 4| disposed in an opening 42 corresponding to the counterbored portion 34 o! the opening 33. A washer 43 is interposed between the Abottom wall 24 and the riveted end of the rivet 48 and is contacted by the outer end of the insulation sleeve 22 in the opening 2| for the binding post i6 of the heavy coil 3. A helical spring 44 is interposed between the rivet 40 and the binding post I8 in contact therewith for electrically connecting the coil 3 with contact member 38.

The bottom wall 24 is provided with a slot or recess 24' to accommodate the switch arm 3| so that the contact 38 may be moved into and out of contact with the contact 38 which latter is in thei gottom of said recess as shown in Figs. 5 an Normally the free end portion of the switch arm lies between the side walls of the recess 24" with the contact member 38 in contact with the contact 38 as shown in Fig. 5, being additionally so held by means of a spring 45. One end of the spring 45 is seated in a cap 48 carried by an insulation disk 41 in turn held in the body member 23 by a screw 4l' screwed into the post 32. The other end of the spring 45 seats on a lock nut 48 around the outer end oi' an adjusting screw 48 carried by the switch arm 3|. The screw 48 is axially adjustably supported in a nut 58 or the like fixed on the switch arm. The inner end of this screw is disposed to contact the outer end of the pin i0 within a central opening 5| in the bottom 24 of the member 23. The timing of the switch and the operational characteristics of the solenoid are subject to variance upon axially adjusting the screw 48. The force o! the spring 48 is such that the switch arm is bowed inwardly between its ends when the contacts 38 and 38 abut one another as shown in Fig. 5. This inward bowing of the switch arm is permitted by the recess 24' and assures a good electrical contact of the contact members 38 and 38.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 4 the screw 41' serves to hold one end of a line conductor 53 from a source oi' electrical energy, not shown, in electrical contact with the post 32 which latter is connected in series with the coil 4. The other line conductor 54 is connected with a binding post 55 as shown in Fig. 13 which post is of substantially the same construction as the post 32 and and electrically connected by means of a helical spring 55 with the binding post I8. As the post i8 is connected by means of the conductor i8 with both coils as shown in Fig. 4. it is seen that when the line switch S is closed (the switch unit 9 being normally closed) the coils will be simultaneously energized to move the plunger 8 against the stop 8. Upon movement of the plunger responsive to the energization of said coils. the pin in will be moved so as to press against the screw 48 and move the switch arm 3| to disengage contact 38 from contact 38 and open the circuit for the heavy coil 3 while the circuit (see Fig. 4) for the holding coil 4 remains closed and the plunger is therefore held against the stop and so remains as longv as line switch S is closed.

The axial adjustment afforded the screw 48 and the resiliency of the switch arm 3| make it possible to time the switch action so that the main or heavy coil 3 will cut out at various times after the initial energization of the two coils and consequent starting of the plunger. This adjustment permits of the cutting out of the heavy coil at any point between the starting impulse given the plunger by both coils and the point at which the plunger nears the stop 6 or contacts the stop, thereby providing for varying the operational characteristics of the solenoid best to adapt to various uses and installations, the adjustments being subject to being readily made without disassembling the solenoid or removing it from the device or mechanism to which it is applied.

The helical spring conductor elements which electrically connect the coils of the solenoid with the switch elements are somewhat compressed when the switch unit is fastened to the solenoid and this assures a reliable electrical connection of the switch element. These springs and the adjustable screw 48 also the flexible switch arm 3i together with the particular construction and arrangement of the other cooperating elements and parts of the solenoid unit and the switch unit make it possible to readily apply the switch unit without close tolerance considerations to solenoids having coils of different sizes with assurance of proper electrical and mechanical connection of such cooperating and connected parts.

It should be noted that the purpose of the helical spring Il is supplement the spring action of the resilient switch arm 3i so that a positive closure of the switch contacts will be effected in the event of fatigue failure of said switch arm. Moreover it should be noted that the disk 41 acts as an explosion shield permitting safe operation of the solenoid in explosive atmospheres in that said disk effectively seals off the switch elements.

Also it should be noted that the adjusting screw makes possible proper actuation of the switch without holding extremely close tolerances and this along with other factors aforementioned makes it possible to easily produce the solenoid and switch assembly hereof at a comparatively low cost.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modincations and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a solenoid assembly, a shell, a spool within said shell, a stop within said spool, a ange on said stop closing the one end of said shell, coils on said spool, a plunger mounted in said spool for movement toward and away from said stop, said with said binding post and said conductor post flange having a plurality of openings therein,

binding posts connected to terminals of said coils and disposed so as to be accessible through said openings, a switch unit housing mounted on said flange and having a bottom wall provided with openings registering with the openings in said flange, a flexible resilient switch arm in said housing, a conductor post fixing one end of said arm to the bottom wall of said housing and extending through said bottom wall into one of said openings therein; a fixed contact member in said housing extending through said bottom wall into another of the openings, ber at the other end of. said switch arm adapted to normally contact the fixed contact member, and helical springs mounted in said openings and being compressed between and in electrical contact with said binding posts and said conductor post and said nxed contact member respectively; and means responsive to movement of said plunger toward said stop for moving said switch a'rml to' disengage said contacts.

therein, a contact mem- 2. Ina solenoid assembly, a shell, a spool within said shell, an end member at one end of said shell, a stop within said spool, a flange on said stop closing the other end of said shell, coils on said spool, a. plunger extended through said end member into said spool for movement toward and away from said stop, said flange having a plurality of openings therein, binding posts connected to terminals of said coils and disposed within the shell adjacent said openings, a switch unit housing secured to said flange and having a bottom wall provided with openings registering with the openings in said flange, a exible switch arm in said housing, a conductor post fixing one end of said arm to the bottom wall of said housing, and extending into one of the openings in said bottom wall; a fixed contact member on the `,and fixed contact member respectively; means responsive movement of said plunger nected to terminals of said coils and toward said stop for moving said switch arm to disengage said contacts, including a thrust pin carried by said stop and extending into said housing and into said spool with one end disposed for contact with said plunger upon movement of the plunger toward the stop, and a screw axially adjustably supported on said arm with one end disposed in contact with the other end of said pin. l

3. In a solenoid assembly, a shell, a spool within said shell, a stop within said spool, a iiange on said stop closing one end of said shell, coils on said spool, a plunger mounted in said spool for movement toward and away from said stop, said flange having a plurality of openings therein, binding posts connected to terminals of said coils and disposed within the inner ends of said openings, a switch unit housing secured to said flange and having a bottom wall provided with openings registering with the openings in said flange, a switch arm in said housing, a conductor post fixing one end of said arm to said bottom wall of said housing and extending into one of said openings in said bottom wall, a fixed contact member in said housing and extending therethrough said bottom wall into another of said openings therein; a contact member at the other end of said switch arm adapted to normally contact the iixed contact member, and helical springs mounted in said registering openings of said flange and bottom wall and being compressed between and in contact with said binding posts and said conductor posts and fixed contact member respectively; and means responsive movement t of said plunger toward said stop for moving said switch arm to disengage said contacts, including a. thrust pin carried by said stop and extending into said housing and into saidv spool with one end disposed for contact with said plunger upon movement of the plunger toward the stop, and a screw axially adjustably supported on said arm with one end in contact with the other end of said pin, and a spring means arranged to yieldingly hold sa 'd switch arm in a position in which said contact members are in contact with one another.

4. In a combined solenoid unit and switch unit adapted to be detachably connected, a. vsolenoid unit including a shell enclosing a spool, coils on the spool, a plunger in said spool. a flanged stop member the flange of which closes the shell and serves as an attaching base for said switch unit and is provided with a plurality of openings affording access to said coils, binding posts conand disposed in line with said openings and in inwardly spaced relation to the outer face of said stop, a switch unit housing detachably secured uponsaid stop and having openings therein in registration with the openings in said stop, switch means in said housing for controlling the solenoid including contact members, a switch arm movable into and out of position for holding said contact members in contact with one Ianother, conducting members for electrically connecting said contact members with Ywith said plunger upon movement of the latter toward said stop.

5. In a combined solenoid unit and switch unit adapted to be detachably connected, a solenoid unit including a shell enclosing a spool, coils on the spool, a plunger in said spool, a flanged stop member the ilange ot which closes the shell and serves as an attaching base for said switch unit and is provided with a plurality of openings ail'ording access to said coils, binding posts connected to -terminals of said coils and disposed in said openings in inwardly spaced relation to the outer face of said stop, a switch unit housing detachably secured upon said stop and having openings therein in registration with the openings in saidstop, switch means in said housing for controlling the solenoid including contact members, a switch arm movable into and out of position for holding said contact members in contact with one another, conducting members for electrically connecting said contact members with said binding posts including helical springs mounted in said openings in contact with said binding posts, a screw axially adjustably supported on said switch arm, a thrust pin slidably supported in said stop with one end disposed in contact with said screw and its other end disposed for contact with said plunger upon movement of thelatter toward said stop; and a spring means for yieldingly holding said switch arm in position to engage said contacts with one another.

6. In a switch unit for connection with a solenoid having an end member provided with openings and contact members accessible through said openings and connected to the coil terminals of the solenoid; a switch housing having a bottom wall adapted to be secured upon said end member and provided with openings for registration with said openings in said end member; a resilient switch arm in said housing, a conductor member ilxing one end of said switch arm to said bottom wall and extending into one of said openings in said bottom wall, said bottom wall having a recess over which the switch arm extends and into which the free end of said arm may be depressed, a iixed contact member in said recess and extending into another one the openings in said bottom wall, a contact member on the free end of said switch arm adapted to contact said fixed contact upon depression of said free end, spring means in said housing for urging said switch arm into position in which the contact member thereon engages said iixed contact members. compression springs compressed between the solenoid contact members and the iixed contact member and conductor member respectively and serving as means for electrically connecting the solenoid coils with the elements of said switch unit.

7. In a switch unit for connection with a solenoid having an end member provided with openings and contact members iixed adjacent the inner ends of said openings and connected to coil terminals of the solenoid; a switch housing having a bottom wall adapted to be secured upon said end member and provided with openings for registration with said openings in said end member a resilient switch arm in said housing. a conductor member ilxing one end of said switch arm to said bottom wall and extending into one of said openings in said bottom wall, said bottom wall having a recess over which the switch arm extends and into which the free end of said arm may be depressed, a iixed contact member in said recess extending into another of the openings in said bottom wall, a contact member on the free end of said switch arm adapted to contact said iixed contact upon depression oi' said free end, spring means in said housing for urging said switch arm into position in which the contact thereon engages said fixed contact, compression springs mounted on said registering openings and adapted to be compressed between the solenoid contact members and the fixed contact member and conductor member respectively as means for electrically connecting the solenoid coils with the elements of said switch unit, a member extending through and axially adjustable on said switch arm, said bottom wall having an opening therein into which said adjustable member extends, and means responsive to operation of the solenoid for contacting said adjustable member and moving said switch arm to 40 disengage said contacts.

ARTHUR FRANK WALTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED sT'ns PATENTS 

